Responding to government announcements on changes to the apprenticeship system, CEO of Skills Federation, Fiona Aldridge, cautiously welcomes the commitment to introduce shorter apprenticeships where this does not compromise competency.
In an exclusive article for FE Week, Fiona details the benefits and risks of shorter apprenticeships, particularly in industries where developing skills and behaviours is as important as knowledge, and which may only be achieved over a longer period.
The Growth and Skills Levy, Fiona argues, provides a crucial opportunity for reform.
“If we are to protect recent hard-won gains to the reputation and profile of apprenticeships, then we are likely to be better served by flexing what can be funded through a reformed growth and skills levy rather than solely looking to flex the apprenticeship model to meet the broad and varied training needs of industry,” comments Fiona.
The article can be read in full in FE Week, edition 490, published on Friday 14 March.
